Cooleemee Historical Association
Creates Endowment with Foundation
2-2-2004

The Cooleemee Historical Association (CHA) became the first non-profit agency in Davie County to establish an endowment with The Community Foundation of Davie County when it transferred $50,000 on January 29th to create the new “Textile Heritage Fund”. "We are very excited about working with The Community Foundation of Davie County," said CHA Vice-President Meg Boswell. "It will be a great partnership, helping us preserve this important part of the South's past as well as benefiting other important projects while the Foundation safeguards our endowment."

Boswell and CHA member Earl Lester met on behalf of the CHA Board of Directors to work out the details of the agreement with Jane Simpson, President and CEO of The Community Foundation of Davie County. In December 2002, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awarded the CHA a $100,000 matching grant to found a permanent Textile Heritage Center Endowment. Grants were awarded to seven of ninety-three applicants nationwide. The new "Textile Heritage Fund" was created with $50,000 raised through gifts matched by NEH.

The CHA must raise an additional $50,000 by June 30, 2004 to receive a scheduled match with another $35,000 the following year. Gifts to the Textile Heritage Fund are tax-deductible and may be made directly to the CHA or The Community Foundation of Davie County. Contributions will be matched dollar for dollar by the NEH grant up to $100,000.

The Cooleemee Historical Association, founded in 1989 by twenty-one individuals, has grown to over 1,200 members. Its accomplishments include:

• Creation of the Mill Village Museum
• Publication of a 448-page illustrated history of the town of Cooleemee
• Publication of a quarterly newsletter for fifteen years
• Establishment of a Textile Heritage Center after refurbishing the historic Zachary-Holt House in 1993. Since then, the center has conducted public programs including an innovative youth project, "Discovering Our Heritage."
• A strategic plan for a regional historic site was developed in 1994 with a vision of telling the mill village story through additional exhibits and attractions. Their initiative to preserve the community's historic gathering spot along the South Yadkin River grew into a robust community partnership and the first portion of RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls---"The Bullhole" opened last fall.
• A 1934-era “Mill Family Life Museum” is currently underway
• In 1996, the Textile Heritage Center held a regional conference in Cooleemee drawing together representatives from 28 mill towns and mill hills with leading scholars. A second conference is planned for 2005 during which a major South-wide Textile Heritage Initiative will be launched.

The mission of The Community Foundation of Davie County, Inc. is to “advance philanthropy and pool donor assets for the benefit of our community.” The Foundation accepts gifts in any amount toward its Unrestricted Fund and has a variety of options for establishment of named funds in honor or memory of donors. To learn more about The Community Foundation of Davie County, Inc. contact Jane Simpson at (336) 753-6903 or jsimpson@daviefoundation.org or visit the Foundation web-site at www.daviefoundation.org

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